Apr 18, 2025

Race preview: Saturday 19 April 2025

David Hucker
Racing correspondent

Easter Saturday heralds Newton Abbot’s biggest meeting of the season with the £20,000 Plymouth Motor Company Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs the highlight of the seven-race card starting at 1.59pm.

Dan Skelton, who is neck and neck with Willie Mulllins in the race to be champion trainer, runs two of his four entries, with Heltenham, still without a win this season, carrying top weight of 12-0. Mount Tempest, a winner at Sandown Park in December has been well-beaten on his two runs since, but will appreciate the ground which has softened since the entries were made on Monday.

Joe Tizzard has selected Scarface from his two entries and, although he is still to win after six starts this season, has put up some good efforts in defeat. Venetia Williams saddles two with stable jockey Charlie Deutsch on the lightly-raced Bucksy Des Epeires. Somerset-based Philip Hobbs & Johnson White have Royal Jewel, a winner at Chepstow in January and for whom Harry Cobden is an interesting jockey booking, and Smarty Wild who wears cheek-pieces for the first time.

Half of the 24 entries in the opening Welcome To Easter Raceday “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle over an extended two and a quarter miles have been declared to run and this looks a good opportunity for Walk On High to break his duck. Chique Angel, trained by Paul Nicholls, runs here in preference to Plumpton on Sunday and could be the one to chase home Walk On High.

Thirteen have been declared for the Tribute Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle and one that catches the eye is Fontwell Park winner Military Tycoon, who was also engaged at Huntingdon.

The front-running Time To Bite, trained locally at Ashburton by Chris Honour, could take some catching in the Trojan Motor Company And Instant Justice Handicap Chase, but has to give weight to all his rivals if he is to complete a hat-trick.

John Betjeman, who is wearing a visor for the first time, is on a long losing run in the following Thatchers Handicap Hurdle, but is now running from a 15lb lower mark than for his last win and has shown flashes of form to suggest he could win off this level.

Longest race of the afternoon is the Happy Easter Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles and course winner Janeslittlevoice could step up on her seasonal debut, although the recent rain won’t have helped her cause. Firefly Lane is back on the same handicap mark as when winning over the course last year and should run well again.

Coconut Twist is having a good season and could win again in the closing St. Austell Brewery Handicap Hurdle in which the lightly-raced Moonset would be another to consider.

There will be a free bus service from Newton Abbot station and a free cream egg for the first 500 people through the gates.